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Post by Titchaz on Mar 14, 2011 21:21:33 GMT 3
MPs up in arms over plans to privatise port By NATION CORRESPONDENT Posted Monday, March 14 2011 at 22:00 Ten MPs from Coast Province claim plans to privatise the port of Mombasa were being driven by selfish and tribal interests. The lawmakers, in their statements, said that some tycoons and politicians were working on plans to own the profitable State corporation by colluding with senior government officials. Led by Fisheries Development Minister Amason Kingi, they said this is why former managing director James Mulewa was hounded out of office to pave way for the scheme. He said the region’s residents had a right to have their interests taken into consideration on matters relating to the port. “A right is not a favour. We have been pushed to the wall and we are saying enough is enough,” the minister said. He spoke on Sunday afternoon during the commissioning of Mrima Secondary School. The 10 area MPs attended the function. Construction of the school was funded by the Likoni CDF kitty at a cost of Sh16.7 million. Kisauni MP Hassan Joho argued that the port only required a management overhaul to perform effectively, saying, its facilities are of better quality than those of other regional and international ports. “We have sufficient equipment to make Mombasa port operate effectively. We may talk of the management change and not the status,” he said. Mr Gideon Mung’aro (Malindi) and Mr Thomas Mwadeghu (Wundanyi) accused the port management of being disrespectful of Coast leaders. Education assistant minister Calist Mwatela (Mwatate), who was the chief guest at the event, said the port is a key public asset that “cannot be sold to a few individuals”. “We have public assets like railways and ports in Germany and Britain and there is no way the governments will allow privatisation of such facilities and we can’t be the exception,” he added. www.nation.co.ke/News/regional/MPs+up+in+arms+over+plans+to+privatise+port++/-/1070/1125026/-/14jjid8z/-/index.htmlMy Comments:Whereas I support the statements made by these MP's I really wonder why they dont put their 'feet where their mouths are'. While I was in Mombasa last month or so when the Dockworkers were staging a peaceful demo, I was perturbed not to see neither one of these people there. As usual the police unleashed their trigger happy fingers and blasted the demonstrators with teargas which in turn created chaos in the city. This thing should be taken seriously otherwise my reliable sources tell me by June watu wataanza kugawana mapande. A friend of mine was privy to an audience with Amos Kimunya the other day at a golf tournament and when the thug was questioned about the sale of the port he gave a very absurd answer thinking coastals are knuckleheads. Eti he said and I quote... 'The land is not for sale, its only the berths/services'...
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Post by nowayhaha on Mar 15, 2011 8:19:13 GMT 3
Just but a confirmation that 2012 Coastal Politics wont be about ODM and PNU .Will be Coast Vs Rest
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Post by kamalet on Mar 19, 2011 0:55:41 GMT 3
Just sell this thing off and stop it being a cash cow for those in power to milk Kenyans of harbour revenue!
Coast MPs make noise not because they love their constituents, bt because they get no cut.
it is pointless if a port like Mombasa is not making as much money as say other ports of reltive size and with simila throughpout. It cannot be anyting but corruption that stops the ports from making money!
As for those asking why we sell a company that is making money, perhaps they should ask someone of near similar age like them why he sold part of his company! How about asking the youngsters that owned Google why they sold shares in such a strong company.
I will try and venture into similar matusi as that of Kimunya when he was finance minister and some charlatan called the NSE as the house of drug dealers and Kimunya responded in his usual arrogance bringing in fish on the table.
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Post by jakaswanga on Mar 19, 2011 16:08:15 GMT 3
Just sell this thing off and stop it being a cash cow for those in power to milk Kenyans of harbour revenue! Coast MPs make noise not because they love their constituents, bt because they get no cut. it is pointless if a port like Mombasa is not making as much money as say other ports of reltive size and with simila throughpout. It cannot be anyting but corruption that stops the ports from making money! As for those asking why we sell a company that is making money, perhaps they should ask someone of near similar age like them why he sold part of his company! How about asking the youngsters that owned Google why they sold shares in such a strong company. I will try and venture into similar matusi as that of Kimunya when he was finance minister and some charlatan called the NSE as the house of drug dealers and Kimunya responded in his usual arrogance bringing in fish on the table. I will summarise here the opinion of a former schoolmate of mine, Dr. Otieno, as I found it on my e-mail. JK, If you oppose the sale of the port you are a fool. There is no state parastatal which has ever been efficiently run by Kenyans. Posta, Kenatco, Kenya Meat, KFA, KR. Telekom which was a dead service, but at the hands of this south african, has boosted the GDP like an oil find. Kenya airways was bought by KLM and a tough dutchman brought in. He found half the seats to london reserved free for relatives and cronies of top government officials. When the girlfriend of a minister was unceremoniously removed from a plane to make room for a paying travellor, the minister confronted the whiteman. The whiteman smiled and told him he can run an airline, while the minister could not even run one of the kiosks selling airtime at the airport, call me a racist if you want, fool. These days kenya airways is the pride of Africa, with Kenyan CEOs and the rest. But the decisions are made by you know who! Ha, osiepa, I know you are a sordid leftist who will now accuse me of being an uncle Tom, finding whites better. I know you told me the privatisation of the Kenyan Railways is such a mess that it would have better remained a state corporation. My answer is it was already a mess in state hands! See you around, when I come to Kissii. Kamalet, I can see you and Dr. Otieno enjoying loads of githeri and fish at Ranalo from the same table!
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Post by Titchaz on Apr 7, 2011 17:30:51 GMT 3
Meanwhile, our own Mwandawiro Mghanga has been whitewashed at the Dockworkers Union Election. I believe he tried the tactic of "my opponent anatoka bara" but it just didnt wash. Huyu Sang ni kigogo hapo Port na kila mtu anampa support kihaki. When I was there in Dec/January I did a little fact finding on the guy na kwa kweli ni mtu was mashinani when it comes to fighting for the workers rights. Kwa hivyo the Dockworkers have spoken! Sang beats Mghanga in Dockworkers Election Top brass of the Dock Workers Union retained their seats in peaceful elections held yesterday. Simon Sang brushed aside his competitors to retain his seat as general secretary of the DWU. His closest rival Mwandawiro Mghanga garnering 159 against Sang’s 3,676 votes.After the results were announced at the KPA headquarters conference hall, a jubilant Sang said he was confident he would retain his seat.“I was sure of getting not less than 99 per cent of the votes because of the hard work I have done for the dock workers,” said Sang. Mghanga conceded defeat. He said he is ready to work with Sang as “the democratic dock workers have spoken”. Jeffer Kiti the national chairmanship also retained his seat. He garnered 2,979 votes against his closest rival Nasoro Mwakaribu’s 389. Tobias Olwa was third with 255. Sang’s assistant will still be Ezra Okongo (1,794) who beat Jacton Alambo (759) and Mohammed Sheria (373). Michael Kituku took the national vice chair position with 2,389 votes against Mohammed Mwayogwe’s 723. Patrick Atinga remains the national treasurer after securing 1,850 votes with Judith Abuka remaining as his assistant with 1,699 votes. www.nairobistar.com/local/coast/19940-dock-workers-top-brass-retain-seats
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Post by jakaswanga on Apr 8, 2011 20:11:52 GMT 3
[quote author=titchaz ]Meanwhile, our own Mwandawiro Mghanga has been whitewashed at the Dockworkers Union Election. I believe he tried the tactic of "my opponent anatoka bara" but it just didnt wash. Huyu Sang ni kigogo hapo Port na kila mtu anampa support kihaki. When I was there in Dec/January I did a little fact finding on the guy na kwa kweli ni mtu was mashinani when it comes to fighting for the workers rights. Kwa hivyo the Dockworkers have spoken! [/quote]
I hope to hell your belief is wrong man! I get so uncomfortable imagining a stalwart of progressive politics like comrade Mwandawiro charting that line!
But it is nice to hear of elections in Kenya where everything went right, and the results have an undisputed democratic mandate, and the losers congratulate the winners!
By the way Tichaz, what are some of the gains for the dock-workers which makes this leadership so popular? Their vote tally is quite impressive. Lots of ground support apparent.
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Post by Titchaz on Apr 9, 2011 0:10:00 GMT 3
[quote author=titchaz ]Meanwhile, our own Mwandawiro Mghanga has been whitewashed at the Dockworkers Union Election. I believe he tried the tactic of " my opponent anatoka bara" but it just didnt wash. Huyu Sang ni kigogo hapo Port na kila mtu anampa support kihaki. When I was there in Dec/January I did a little fact finding on the guy na kwa kweli ni mtu was mashinani when it comes to fighting for the workers rights. Kwa hivyo the Dockworkers have spoken! I hope to hell your belief is wrong man! I get so uncomfortable imagining a stalwart of progressive politics like comrade Mwandawiro charting that line! But it is nice to hear of elections in Kenya where everything went right, and the results have an undisputed democratic mandate, and the losers congratulate the winners! By the way Tichaz, what are some of the gains for the dock-workers which makes this leadership so popular? Their vote tally is quite impressive. Lots of ground support apparent.[/quote] Jakaswanga,Heshima kwako ndugu yangu. The Dockworkers election was a hot potato ishu while I was there in Mombasa for 2months coupled with the fact that rumors were rife that some 'bara' folks were trying to sell this cash cow in the name of privatisation. Things were made worse by Kimunya's crazy comments and Uhuru Kenyatta's presence on this matter under the cloud of being Minister for Finance. So as the scenario went there was an angst against 'wabara' taking charge of the port in any capacity. Hata hivyo Sang is a fighter for ages and has been standing with folks through thick and thin. So being nosy about the politics therein, I hanged around an old class mate who now works at KPA so he could give me the insider takings of this Sang fellow and how he was gonna make it. One thing he told me was that the man is for the people at all costs maana he started from the trenches as a causal laborer and has worked his way up the system. He fought for better pay and working conditions for the Dock workers and had many people be employed as PP (permanent and pensionable) after being at the port for a long time. There is more he has done there which I cannot put down for now maana nakimbilia kuenda kazini but I will post in due time maana I see you are interested in this issue. The day he iced the cake for me ni siku ile he led the Dockworkers in protests against this illegal privatisation of KPA. It is prudent to note that a few weeks prior, the coastal MP's led by kina Joho, Balala and Kajembe had held an emotional meeting whipping up ethnic sentiments that they would demonstrate from Lamu to Kwale if the port was privatised. This was the first time I had seen the coastal MPs speak in one accord in a long time. Kumbe it was just for political mileage. When the D-day came for a peaceful demonstration, none of them was present. They were all in the comfort of their offices seeping on something good while the Dockworkers assembled. Imagine Bwana Sang led these people marching kutoka mitaa ya Docks coming up Moi Avenue only for our dreaded police to start shooting teargas and charging at them. You can imagine what happened in town that day...Kenya style helter skelter, maduka kufungwa, innocent bystanders getting clobbered...etc. Its stuff like this that has made the Dockworkers to galvanise around Sang no matter who comes to oppose him. He has proved his worth for the common worker and he has been there for a long time. There was no way Mwandawiro angemshinda 'hata kwa dawa' as we say it at the coast. He was considerd a "Johnny-come-lately". Senti yangu hamsini hio. Be blessed.
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Post by Titchaz on Jul 10, 2011 7:14:16 GMT 3
DOCKERS OPPOSE PORT SALE, PLAN DEMO Secretary General Of Dockworkers Union,Simon Sang THE DOCK Workers Union has threatened to go on strike if the government does not withdraw plans to privatize the Port of Mombasa. Union general secretary Simon Sang' said privatization programme is aimed at stealing public money and making few but well connected individuals rich. He said that if the government does not stop the plans the union close all roads to and from Mombasa. Employees will work until July 17, but have given the government a July 19 ultimatum to cancel the privatisation programme. “If the government will not stop the intention of privatization, we are going to hold a regional strike. The strike will be like no other because we are going to unite with the local communities to fight for the port,” he said. He dismissed Transport minister Amos Kimunya statement that privatization will make the port efficient. He observed that it is ironical a private investor will invest only Sh4.5 billion yet the port is valued at Sh40 billion.He cited Singapore and South African ports which were modernized but remained public. He said the government can also commit funds towards modernizing the port and not privatize. The union’s chairman Jeffa Kiti said Kimunya is being used by few individuals who want to misuse the port. He said that he has tolerated poor management of the port. “Kimunya is being used by few individuals who are intending to steal public resources. He has in fact embraced poor management and we are tired of his games,” he said. Kiti said the current board of directors should be sacked for poor performance. www.nairobistar.com/local/coast/31033-dockers-oppose-port-sale-plan-demo
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Post by wanyee on Jul 10, 2011 18:37:42 GMT 3
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Post by wanyee on Jul 11, 2011 18:46:51 GMT 3
THE CORPORATION [3/23] A Legal "Person"
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Post by job on Jul 11, 2011 19:27:39 GMT 3
The latest copy of the Africa Intelligence - July 2011, (by subscription only) reports that Gichiri Ndua, the MD of KPA (appointed by Amos Kimunya), has recieved an illegal advance payment of Shs 900, 000, 000.00 (almost a billion shillings) into his personal account. This has to do with the planned irregular privatization deal at the port.
The billion-shilling-kick-back receiver, Gichiri Ndua, MD - KPA. Who else's cut is in it?
This information has been duly passed onto the KACC but as usual, PLO Lumumba will never investigate the same people who feed his in-tray. PLO would rather hound small change thieves but will never touch the sacred cows such as those surrounding Kimunya who are busy milking the public.
In the same vein, Kenyan mainstream media is mum about this other Kimunya-originated scandal.
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Post by politicalmaniac on Jul 11, 2011 19:42:24 GMT 3
Job Its time the Rt hon Prime Minister made a statement, and the legico got involved. We need some sunlight here Its the best disinfectant. The wana Costi should be aware of the mafiya wa mt kenya thugs and their hirelings via whom they spread their tentacles inot pwani, kina mwakere.
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Post by Titchaz on Jul 22, 2011 23:21:50 GMT 3
KPA strikers get 500 jobs pledge Some of the striking Kenya Ports Aurhority workers demonstrate outside the KPA head office Friday. Operations at the port were paralysed for more than eight hours during the workers’ strike called to protest planned privatisation. By GITONGA MARETE, gmarete@ke.nationmedia.com AND BOZO JENJE, bjenje@ke.nationmedia.com Posted Friday, July 22 2011 at 21:26 The Kenya Ports Authority management on Friday promised to employ some 500 contract staff on permanent basis during a crisis meeting called to end a damaging workers’ strike. Another 247 on casual terms, whose one-year contracts had expired, will be returned to work in August under new two-year contracts under the deal struck between the Dock Workers Union, management and local political leaders. Operations at the Mombasa port container terminal were on Friday paralysed for more than eight hours during the strike called to protest planned privatisation.The union is demanding that KPA comes clean on the privatisation plans put on hold early this year after a public uproar. The port terminal is the heart of port operations and disruption of the schedule for a couple of hours leads to a backlog of containers on ships or on the docks awaitng export, resulting in massive losses to the port and shipping lines. During an official function at the port on July 5, Transport minister Amos Kimunya reignited the privatisation debate when he hinted that the process would go on, a sentiment that did not go down well with the workers. “We want the government to tell us whether the port is being sold or not because what we have seen does not relate with what KPA management is telling us. If the port is sold, more than 3000 workers will be retrenched,” union general secretary Simon Sang told workers who had gathered outside KPA headquarters.The union also wants 3,128 workers who have been on contract and have worked for between five and 15 years to be offered permanent employment despite KPA’s freeze on recruitment of new staff a year ago. Two MPs, Mr Ramadhan Kajembe (Changamwe) and Mr Masoud Mwahima (Likoni), as well as Mombasa mayor Ahmed Mondhar arrived at the port and said they had responded to calls by workers over failure by the management to clear the air over the matter. Waving placards with messages demanding that Mr Kimunya, managing director Gichiri Ndua and the board of directors should resign, the workers accused the management of highhandedness and failure to listen to their grievances. But the strike was called off in the evening after a crisis meeting between union and management, provincial administration and the political leaders. The management agreed to immediately employ on permanent and pensionable basis some 500 senior staff, while 247 other casual whose one-year contracts had expired will be returned to work in August and under new, two-year contracts. On the privatisation, the meeting resolved that there would be no such undertaking and communication would be made to the Transport minister to that effect. There will also be no retrenchment.The resolutions were announced to the gathered workers by Mr Sang who was accompanied by the political leaders. A contingent of anti-riot police who had been called to disperse the crowd kept vigil, but was later withdrawn. Plans to sack workersEarly this year, Privatisation Commission of Kenya executive director Solomon Kitungu denied there were plans of selling the port and issued a press statement saying he was “not aware of any approved privatisation plans for Mombasa port operations.” Privatisation of the port is expected to transform it into a landlord port where all terminal operations are handled by the private sector, which is expected to improve efficiency.But the politicians yesterday put the MD to task over the plans, saying Mr Kimunya and his permanent secretary Cyrus Njiru had refused to engage them as well as union officials in talks over the matter. Briefing the press at his boardroom earlier, Mr Ndua said KPA was restructuring its operations and denied that there were plans to sack workers. www.nation.co.ke/News/KPA+strikers+get+500+jobs+pledge+/-/1056/1206146/-/yof816/-/index.html
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Post by jakaswanga on Jul 24, 2011 12:45:25 GMT 3
Titchaz, I hope you have managed to read the Gichiri-Ndua story. I have now also read another intelligence newsletter which corroborates the African intelligence brief refered to by Job in this thread.
The story of the privatisation of the Mombasa port stinks even more when you connect it to a few other salient facts. I wanted to write this under the thread which deals with the appointment of old Chief of Staff Kiang'a to the directorate of Kenya Railways Corporation -KRC, but I will do it here, because of the immidiate consequences to the dock workers of Mombasa, whose historical struggle through the decades I follow keenly. After privatisation, they will all be sacked by the supposed new owners, then asked to re-aplly and take home diminished pay-cheques, or leave it. All union concious and politically active ones [the trouble makers] in the eyes of the management, will not be re-employed. Instead they will be declared persona non grata in the area.
1. In Kenya, only 5% of the long distance freight leaves Mombasa by train. In other ports with functional rail-lines, the figure is 90%. 2. In all the economic forecasts for the next 30 years, on the positive side, the port of Mombasa [and Lamu when completed] will serve Greater East Africa. This is Uganda, East Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, and lower Ethiopia. Mathematically speaking in %s, there is room for an in excess of 1000% cargo handling increase in the next decade. [The shady privatisation is to make a killing in this terrifying growth rate, after destroying workers organisations, especially the ever troublesome [highly concious] dock workers union].
2. In 2010, an agreement was reached by various partners on the reconditioning, [rehabilitation and upgrading] of the KENYA-UGANDA railway, to a high-speed high-capacity modern gauge, with an equivalent plan to do the same to the port. Construction was to start in 2011, and end in 2016. African Development Bank [IDB] loans $40 million dollars, ksh. 3.6 billion. This, on new intelligence analysis, sheds light on Kiang'a's move to the KRC. A strategic set indeed by the current owners of the republic.
The KRC, as the greatest outlet from the port, will have a great stake, ownership stock. These loans are underwritten by the GOK, the wananchi, so a private company purporting to buy the port is still a financial appendage of the GOK, in which case the dock-workers must have the option of having a prominent say at the table where the negotiations to privatisation are held. It wouldnt be the first time a busy port is efficiently run by a tripatriate management of investors, government and workers.
3. What I want to say besides that, is that there is actually no need to fire any performing workers at the dock. There is to be a massive recruitment of workers [eg in construction] IF THE BUDGET IS NOT STOLEN AND THE PROJECT STARTS AND PROCEEDS ON SCHEDULE! There should instead be a massive re-schooling intake to prepare them for a new modern port, with its lots of computerised gadgets. upward career openings!
NB: I have an economist buddy who is all Thatcherite. He wants to privatise even the public road between Kisii and Kisumu! A mere formality he says, because it is already owned by corrupt cops anyway. To him, this port must be privatised by hook or crook. I on the hand points to the privatisation of the KRC to the Rift Valley management consortium of companies from Egypt, Uganda, South Africa and Brazil. I find them as useless as the old KR! so privatisation is no magic wand to me.
This Aluta must continue, mwalimu. Keep us posted on this as usual.
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Post by Titchaz on Jul 24, 2011 16:01:48 GMT 3
Jakaswanga,Tied to this issue about the 'privatization' of the Port of Mombasa, there is some posturing going on as you mentioned above,... about the Kiang'a move to KR.... Sh16bn expansion of railway line to make transport faster, cheaper From left, Kenya Railways MD Nduva Muli, Director General Kenya Vision 2030 Mugo Kibati and Equity Chief Executive Officer James Mwangi on July 22, 2011 at Syokimau Station during the brief to the Vision 2030 delivery Board on 2030 projects being implemented by Kenya Railways. Kenya Railway is developing of commuter rail services in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. By LUCAS BARASA, lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com Posted Friday, July 22 2011 at 18:57 The railways company has embarked on a Sh16 billion expansion for fast, reliable, safe and affordable commuter rail services in Nairobi and surrounding areas.The Kenya Railways (KR) project involves track rehabilitation, modernization and doubling, building a new branch line to JKIA, new signaling installation, remodelling the existing 10 stations and building 12 new ones, commissioning new coaches and introducing modern trains operations.... www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/1206044/-/10hqjqcz/-/index.htmlAnd this...Kenya poised to roll out ambitious Sh2 trillion transport corridor project A section of Northern Corridor under construction in Naivasha, Rift Valley Province in Kenya. The roads, railways and maritime transportation systems in the EAC region are, on average, in a poor state as are the railways and inland waterways transport systems. By PETER LEFTIE, pmutibo@ke.nationmedia.com Posted Friday, July 22 2011 at 18:50 Kenya is on the verge of rolling out a multi-trillion shilling project to exploit the vast resources in Coast and Northern Kenya that will catapult the country into a medium income economy by 2030. Transport Minister Amos Kimunya was on Friday upbeat that the construction of Lamu Port and the transport corridor through Isiolo, Moyale and Turkana will open up the marginalised Northern Kenya, linking it to Southern Sudan and Ethiopia. “We will be engaging the Cabinet next week because we feel their input is important. This is a massive project as it is will open up the newly independent South Sudan. I will talk about the project extensively after I have briefed the Cabinet and received its input,” the minister told Saturday Nation. www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/1206042/-/10hqjqez/-/index.htmlNow you can see why people are not retiring, but being rewarded with positons of interest when it cames to GOK coffers. The vultures are waiting!
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Post by Titchaz on Jul 24, 2011 16:19:39 GMT 3
Titchaz, I hope you have managed to read the Gichiri-Ndua story. I have now also read another intelligence newsletter which corroborates the African intelligence brief refered to by Job in this thread. The Ndua issue is now on everyone's lips...thanks to this era of the internet and sms..watu wanasambaza habari kwa haraka sana. Meanwhile the dock workers' strike has entered day two with a major call for Ndua to be removed... DOCK WORKERS CRIPPLE PORT AS STRIKE ENTERS DAY TWO Saturday, 23 July 2011 00:08 BY BRIAN OTIENO UP IN ARMS: Dock workers demonstrate at the Kenya Ports Authority offices. Photo/Elkana Jacob Operations at the Mombasa Port were yesterday completely paralysed as thousands of protesting dock workers threatened to forcefully oust the Kenya Ports Authority MD Gichiri Ndua from his offices. The dock workers, who were in their second day of the five-day strike, are protest the government’s plans to privatise the port. They were undeterred by the presence of hundreds of riot police who lobbed tear gas canisters in an attempt to dispersed them.The dockers chanted anti-Ndua songs as they demanded his resignation. Dock Workers Union general secretary Simon Sang led the workers to the KPA headquarters. On Thursday evening, there was tension at the port as suspected members of the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council threatened to torch the port if the management did not quickly address the workers’ issues. Inside the building yesterday, the KPA management, including Ndua himself, were making frantic consultations as the situation outside threatened to get out of hand. Ndua, KPA public relations manager Bernard Osero and other senior officials, were locked up in a meeting in the KPA board chairman Shukri Baramadi’s office. Baramadi himself was not present. Sang, who had been blocked from entering the headquarters for about two hours by KPA security officers, was finally allowed in as the protesting workers threatened to forcefully enter the building.Sang insisted that the more than 3,000 workers who have been on casual terms for more than 15 years should be given permanent jobs. “The constitution clearly states that a worker who has been on casual terms for more than three months should be absorbed on permanent basis,” Sang said. The workers also demanded that the KPA board be disbanded saying it has failed in its duties. Local leaders, including Changamwe MP Ramadhan Kajembe, his Likoni counterpart Masoud Mwahima and Mombasa mayor Ahmed Mohdhar, were at the port.They grilled Ndua for about one hour demanding to know which part of the port has been sold. Ndua however said no part of the port has been sold. “This privatisation plans should be stopped and de-gazetted. We know you are working under instructions but we are heading into the elections and this issue might bring chaos,” Kajembe warned. Ndua however said no portion of the port has been sold. He said a new system, the Kwato system, was brought on board to make work more efficient. He said this required restructuring of the company. “Those advancement in handling of cargo handling and technology have prompted us to revisit the structure. We need to put a new structure in place which reflects the dynamics of the industry. “The union read ‘restructuring’ to mean ‘retrenchment’. It’s rather unfortunate the two words with ‘RE’. The feeling that retrenchment is taking place is not correct,” said Ndua. Kajembe said local leaders should be involved in the running of the port. “Part of the port is in my constituency and part in Mwahima’s. Why do you involve people from Kaloleni in matters of the port and not us?” he posed. By the time of going to press, the KPA management were still in talks with the union and the local leaders. www.nairobistar.com/local/coast/32979-dock-workers-cripple-port-as-strike-enters-day-two
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Post by Titchaz on Aug 6, 2011 2:45:42 GMT 3
And finally Kimunya throws in the towel...but with a disclaimer! KIMUNYA SAYS PRIVATIZATION OF PORT IS OUT! THE privatisation of the Port of Mombasa is off, a minister reaffirmed yesterday. Speaking in Mombasa, Transport minister Amos Kimunya said, however, he will meet with stakeholders including Coast MPs to discuss the possibility of privatising part of the port. He said said the meeting will discuss creation of job opportunities at the port and improvement of the economy in general. His statement comes a month after Prime Minister Raila Odinga told Coast leaders during a tour of the area that he will form a committee to look into the privatisation issue. Speaking on the sidelines of the second Africa Leadership and Management convention in Mombasa, Kimunya said parts of the port will be privatised to ensure efficiency by incorporating the private sector. This may come as a relief to thousands of dock workers who fear that they may lose their jobs in case the privatisation deal goes through. A week ago the more than 6,000 workers at the port paralysed operations at the port opposing the privatisation. The workers claim the move would lead to massive retrenchments of workers at the port. The outlawed Mombasa Republican Council has filed a case in court challenging the privatisation. Said Kimunya, “We have agreed that there will be no privatisation until further discussions are made and proper systems worked out in order to make it successful.” www.the-star.co.ke/local/coast/34808-leaders-meeting-kimunya-kimunya-says-port-privatisation-out
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Post by kamalet on Aug 6, 2011 8:46:18 GMT 3
The latest copy of the Africa Intelligence - July 2011, (by subscription only) reports that Gichiri Ndua, the MD of KPA (appointed by Amos Kimunya), has recieved an illegal advance payment of Shs 900, 000, 000.00 (almost a billion shillings) into his personal account. This has to do with the planned irregular privatization deal at the port.
The billion-shilling-kick-back receiver, Gichiri Ndua, MD - KPA. Who else's cut is in it?
This information has been duly passed onto the KACC but as usual, PLO Lumumba will never investigate the same people who feed his in-tray. PLO would rather hound small change thieves but will never touch the sacred cows such as those surrounding Kimunya who are busy milking the public.
In the same vein, Kenyan mainstream media is mum about this other Kimunya-originated scandal.
Job Are you sure you checked the correctness of this figure? The value of Mombasa port would have to be at leasst 9 trillion shillings if the kick back was 10%. Secondly 900 billion is about 90% of the entire Kenya Budget for FY2011/12! To put the amount in perspective this is about $10 billion at current exchange rates, so you should know where on the Forbes List Ndua would be immediately placed on the world's rich list.
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